Daily Archives: December 22, 2024

Where DOES Andrew’s murky money come from? His business dealings must be investigated after ‘spy’ scandal, says expert

PRINCE Andrew’s business dealings must be investigated in light of the Chinese “spy” scandal, says an expert. The Duke of York is understood to have been a “close confidant” of Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds.5Prince Andrew’s income stream has been questionedCredit: Reuters5Yang Tengbo is accused of being a Chinese spy5Yang is said to have been a close friend of the duke’sAn appeal hearing found Yang, 50, had been dishonest about his links to the Chinese state and could exploit his relationship with the duke, 64, and other public figures.It comes after the Sun reported last week the alleged foreign agent knew how to sneak people in and out of the duke’s Royal Lodge home.The shock revelation emerged in a letter from one of Andrew’s top advisers, Dominic Hampshire, to the spy.While yesterday it was reported a leaked email shows the duke boasted about having been afforded preferential treatment in opening an account with the Bank of China in 2008. READ MORE ROYAL NEWSThe account is understood to have been based in China and would have allowed Andrew to take payments for business deals outside of the glare of UK authorities.Royal biographer Andrew Lownie told our Royal Exclusive show: “We need a real investigation, probably by parliamentary committee, into actually what happened with this special representative.”He went on to say Andrew has been “protected by diplomats” with “shocking” instances allegedly covered up over the years. “I think he is taking money from various people in the Middle East and Central Asia,” he said. “He’s been taking commissions off deals, he’s been doing that for 20 years. “I know of several cases, diplomatic instances were hushed up of him trying to scrounge money off various rulers in the Middle East and elsewhere. “The fact is, we know nothing about his finances, he operates through frontmen like Dominic Hampshire, the man who’s involved with this Chinese businessman, but he also disguises his identity in companies. “He sets up a whole series of dormant companies, where he can disguise transactions through them. His ex wife [Sarah Ferguson] is exactly the same…”I think there are a lot of big questions about where they’re earning their money.”Mr Lownie – who is due to release a joint biography on the Yorks next year – said a “whole series” of measures need to be introduced to keep tabs on the royals’ income. “We need to have a register of royal interests, which was explored several years ago, like the parliamentary register… they would have to declare, in effect, their business activities,” he said. “There was meant to be a list of royal gifts, but that hasn’t followed. The ways that Andrew’s paid in gifts…”He added: “I think we need to have royal wills unsealed so we know how the wealth is passed down through the generations.” Cameron Walker, GB News royal correspondent, also appeared on the show, hosted by Sun royal editor Matt Wilkinson. Referring to the Chinese case, he said: “What this scandal has done has highlighted the issue of transparency when it comes to members of the Royal Family, because a lot of their finances are secret. “I think the Royal Family would probably argue they publish the Sovereign Grant every year, they publish the Duchys of Cornwall and Lancaster as well. “But, of course, there are other members of the Royal Family, working or not, who do somehow get paid. “There is no transparency in that. But the other question is do the public actually care how the Royal Family are funded and should they care?”Mr Wilkinson questioned whether private income sources need to be revealed, as this wouldn’t be the case for the general public.Mr Lownie said: “The question is it’s private income made off the back of them being royals… they’re utilising their royal position to make money, personally. That’s the question. “It’s not their private things. There are plenty of members of the Royal Family who have shares and run businesses that absolutely should be private. “It’s where they are using their royal position for their own personal gain and that is the big thing with Andrew, and indeed his ex wife.”          Read more on the Scottish SunMr Walker added once Andrew’s alleged “business interests” in the Middle East and Asia are fully exposed “he’s going to be complete toast”.”And I think he’s going to bring the Royal Family down with him.”5Andrew and ex-wife Sarah FergusonCredit: Splash5A leaked email showed Andrew boasting about setting up a Chinese bank accountCredit: PA

Meet man with Rs 26858 crore net worth, runs Rs 104268 crore company, his business is…

Dr. Reddy’s daughters: Preetha, Suneeta, Shobana, and Sangita now take the reins of the business, and his careful mentorship is part of the process.At 90, when most would enjoy the twilight of life in quiet reflection, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy strides into his Chennai office every morning at 10 am, exuding a vigor that puts even younger professionals to shame. For the founder of Apollo Hospitals, work isn’t just routine—it’s purpose. With a net worth of Rs 26,858 crore, he could easily rest on his laurels, but his six-day workweek speaks volumes about his dedication.

Dr. Reddy’s journey from a young medical student at Stanley Medical College to a renowned cardiologist in the United States was one of perseverance and ambition. Yet, the letters from his father back home and a life-changing tragedy in 1979 redefined his path. When a patient died because they couldn’t afford treatment abroad, Reddy’s resolve hardened. India deserved better healthcare, and he was determined to provide it.

Apollo Hospitals opened in Chennai in 1983, with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a strong supporter. In fact, it was not just a hospital; it was a lifeline to thousands of Indians who could never have thought that they would see world-class healthcare in India. What began as an initiative for cardiac care went on to become a full-fledged healthcare empire encompassing 71 hospitals, 5,000 pharmacies, primary care clinics, diagnostics chains, and even a digital health portal.

Dr. Reddy’s daughters: Preetha, Suneeta, Shobana, and Sangita now take the reins of the business, and his careful mentorship is part of the process. As many as nine of ten grandchildren are already involved, with Reddy shaping their roles “like a surgeon” trying to ensure a smooth passage of leadership. It was not about wealth but ensuring that his legacy was one of excellence and compassion.

Despite his monumental success, Reddy remains grounded. “Success should make us humble and inspire us to do more for the country,” he once said. It’s this humility and relentless spirit that transformed Apollo Hospitals into a beacon of hope for millions.

It’s a story not of building a medical empire but of building trust, saving lives, and proving that with vision and grit, one can transform an entire nation’s healthcare landscape. And as he moves ahead, he reminds all of us that age is but a number when passion fuels the soul.  

NWI Business Ins and Outs: Rocco’s Tavern, Little Harts Play Cafe and FitFuel Cafe opening

Chef Joe Farina and his wife Yvonne, who are known for their classy Italian eateries in Michigan City, will soon open a new concept downtown.The Farinas, who worked at Victory Italian and other Chicago restaurants, are trying something different with Rocco’s Tavern. The new upscale oyster bar will serve raw oysters from both coasts, steaks, chops and burgers.”There will be no Italian. We just wanted to do something different,” Joe Farina said. “We like Michigan City. We like the neighborhood and what’s going on there.”Rocco’s Tavern will feature an old-school Miami decor and a 1960s steakhouse vibe with cream suede booths. It will have a full bar with a curated wine selection, bourbon, whiskeys and cocktails. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will seat about 60 diners inside and another 20-25 on an outdoor patio.

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It will offer fancy desserts and is looking at tableside desserts like cherries jubilee or bananas foster. It will serve strips, filets, tomahawks, lamb chops, pork chops, Beef Wellington and Steak Diane, giving diners the option of encrusting steaks in blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese. Seafood options will include lobster tails, tuna tartare, a seafood tower and assortments of four to six oysters with mignonette sauce and a house-made cocktail sauce with freshly ground horseradish.It will open in February next door to Cafe Farina, which offers traditional Italian cuisine.Well-established as a Chicago chef, Joe Farina has cooked at events like Chicago Gourmet, Taste of Travel, The Grand Chef’s Experience and Bacon Fest. He founded the Victory Restaurant Group that has had locations in River North, the South Loop, Elmhurst and Oak Park. His wife Yvonne Farina is a certified sommelier who’s worked in many acclaimed Chicago restaurants.They made Michigan City their adopted home and opened Farina’s Supper Club in Michigan City, Cafe Farina in Michigan City and Farina’s Belly Flop in Long Beach.Their flagship restaurant, Farina’s Supper Club, closed for months after suffering a kitchen fire in February. The traditional Wisconsin-style supper club recently reopened at 3311 Pottawattamie Trail.Farina’s Supper Club first opened in 2021, offering an elegant dining experience.”Steaks are really popular. So are a lot of meats. The Pork Chop Sinatra is really big there,” he said. “It’s a supper club. We try to keep it simple. It’s hearty good food. We cook everything to order. It’s the stuff I grew up on. I call it Italian-American food. It’s half Melrose Park, Illinois where I grew up and half Italian.”Little Harts Play Cafe in Dyer combines a coffee shop with an indoor playground for children up to age 6.Jessica Wood and Garrett Wood, married parents of a 2-year-old, opened the new business at 2011 Hart St. just off the corner of U.S. 30 and Hart Street. Little Harts Play Cafe, whose name plays off its address, features an innovative indoor playground with a miniature town hall and other play spaces that are meant to promote creativity, socializing and physical development. “We’re parents. We know how hard it for small kids to find public places,” Jessica Wood said. “Kids can’t stay still for long. This is somewhere where kids can run around while their parents enjoy a good cup of coffee. When we moved back from Mississippi, we struggled to make friends with other parents. We thought we might awas well open a play cafe. They have them in the northern suburbs of Chicago but there’s nothing like it here.”The 2,800-square-foot business is divided between the coffee shop and the 1,800-square-foot place space that features play areas like a Dyer Town Hall, a police station, a grocery store and a climbing structure.”We focus on imaginative play, she said. “We couldn’t find anything like that when we moved to Dyer. There are play structures like McDonald’s PlayPlaces but nothing where kids can use their creativity and play as firemen or police officers.”Little Harts Play Coffee, which is located in a former accounting office, plans to host birthday parties, church groups and other group events. It plans to offer the community programming, such as help with post-partum depression. It sources all its coffee from Just Be Coffee Roasters in Munster and offers a full range of coffee drinks, including seasonal items like peppermint mochas, pumpkin spice lattes and hot chocolate. It will offer pastries and baked goods, and is looking at bringing over Mexican goods from the neighboring La Cecina restaurant.FitFuel Cafe is now powering workouts in the new Hammond Destination YMCA at the site of the former Woodmar Mall at 6532 Indianapolis Boulevard.Mike Mucha and Dan Edwards opened the cafe, which sells smoothies, wraps and sandwiches, as well as fresh fruit and healthier chips.”We sell healthy, substantial foods,” Mucha said. “We’re try to give good healthy options and serve good things to the community. It’s approachable and family-oriented.”Popular wraps include the chicken Caesar and buffalo chicken. A vegetarian option will be added soon.The peanut butter and banana smoothie is popular with weightlifters looking to consume protein to build muscle after a workout. It caters to people who come to the new YMCA to work out, do cardi go swimming or take ninja, gymnastics or ballet classes. In the late afternoon and evenings, after school lets out, it caters to a lot of middle school and high school kids.”We try to make sure it’s approachable and in young people’s budgets,” Mucha said.FitFuel Cafe is in the brand new, multimillion-dollar YMCA’s lobby, where it’s surrounding by seating where people can hang out, decompress after a workout, wait to be picked up or enjoy a snack.Mucha previously worked at a Dairy Queen and in customer service. Edwards is one of the owners of seven Jimmy John restaurants in Northwest Indiana. They are interested in potentially expanding the FitFuel concept to other YMCAs.
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